Spark-timer for internal-combustion engines.



H. SGHAAKE & J. T. COWIB. SPARK TIMER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED F213,), 1908.

Patented Mar, 23, 1909.

WIT/M8858: MAW

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

HENRY SCHArAKEjiND JOHN T. (.OWIE, OF NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA,

CANADA.

SPARK-TIMER FOR. INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 2,3,, 1909.

Application filed'February 7, .1908. Serial No. 414,719.

' Province of British Columbia, Canada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Spark-Timers for lnternal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a spark timing device for internal combustion engines, and our object has been to combine in one compact device a spark timer and a battery and dynamo switch by which the several means for starting a gas engine are together and conveniently placed for operation and to this combination is applied a system by which contact of the spark coil to any particular cylinder of the engine may be made by means of a push button, so that if an engine should be temporarily stopped while its cylinders are charged with gas, the spark may be given to that cylinder the crank of which is in a favorable position to receive the. explosion and start the engine; By this means the necessity for cranking is avoided or the spark timer need not be moved from the proper starting position on which it may be set.

The invention is fully described in the following specification, and illustrated in the drawings by which it is accompanied, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through'the device, Fig. 2, a plan of the same, and Fig. 3, a section on the line A A. in Fig.

On the end ofthe crank shaft of the engine or preferably on a vertical shaft 3 driven therefrom at anequal speed of rotation is a rotatable element the metallic contact 3 of which is in electrical connection with the' shaft 2 and therethrough with the frame of the engine and the insulation 4 1n which 3 1s set is concentric with the shaft 2. The

brushes 5 for this rotatableelement, one for each cylinder of the engine, are mounted 1n spring cases 6 and pass through a ring of injection 10 of the bearing 12 in which the I sulating material 8 concentric with the rota table element with an annular air space 7 between. This'brush carrying ring 8 is secured to and projects upward from the bossof alever 11 of the same insulatin material WhlGh is rotatable on the outside 0 an upward pros'haft 2 runs, 80 that by means of a handle 13 on the lever 11, the position of the brushes 5 relative to the contact S'may be varied and the timing of the sparks in the cylinders of the engine regulated in relation to the position of their cranks.

On the upper outer edge of the insulating ring 8 which carries the brushes and adjacent to. the lever 11 are contact plates 15 and 16 each provided with binding screws 17' and 18 to which the wires 19 and 20 from battery and dynamo are respectively connected, and pivotally mounted on a pivot pin 21' on the lever 11 is a resilient switch 22. by which contact may be' made with either the battery or the dynamo contact plate 1501' 167 The electrical contact'of the switch 22 with the frame of' the engine is made through the pivot 21 which passes through the insulation of the lever 11 to a bar 25 the-outer end of which bar 25 rests'on the produced lower end of the handle 13, the inner end bearing on the underside of a metal contact ring 26 concentric with the axis of the shaft 2 and sup orted to the bearing 12 thereof by a spider rame 27, the bar 25 being held in frictional the lower end of the pivot 21. circuit may thus be closed tothe battery while starting by contact of the switch 22 with the plate 15, and thereafterbe opened to the battery and closed to thedynamo by contact with the contact ring 26 by a spring 28 f The sparking 26 beneath, The stem of each msh button passes through and is supported y a projection 32 from the periphery of the brush carr ing ring 8 a light s ring 33 being introuced on the stem to old it out of contact with the ring 26 until the finger is applied to establish contact. v

By means of any one of these push buttons the sparking circuit may be closed and a spark given in any cylinder the crank of which may be in a favorable position for starting and thus, assuming the cylinders to be charged with'gas, the necessity for cranking the engine 1s avoided and the timer brushes need not be movedjfrom the proper starting position on which they maye set. The device is illustrated as applied to an engine oftwo cylinders, but it will be obvious brushes'on an insulatin able concentrically Wit the rotatable elethat it isnot limited to such as the number of brushes will co :fe'spond to the number of c lindersior cranks'? and the push buttons to the number. of brushes.

If thought desirable the gas or throttle valve of the'en'gine may be operated by'a lever pivotal-1y mounted on a principal operating handles 'of the engine may be all together in one place and conveniently arranged for manipulation.

aving now particularly described our invention and the manner of its 0 eration, we hereby declare that What we clliim as ,new and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is z 1. In a spark timer, the combination with a rotatable element rotatable at the same speed as the engine crank shaft and insulated brushes therefor, of means for su porting the ring W ch is movment, plates on said concentrically movable insulating ring to which the battery and dyx namo clrcults are respectively comiected, A

with either of caring 14 0on5 centric with the axis of the shaft 2 so that the and a'switeh .pivotally mounted to contmt said plates, which switch is in electrical contact with a ring concentric with the axis of rotation of the rotatable element and in electrical contact with the engine.

2. In a spark timer, the combinationwith a rotatable element, of an' insulated brush holder which is movable concentrically with said element, plates on the insulatlon to which a battery. and dynamo are respec tively connected a switch in electrical contact with theengine by which connection may be made to either the battery or dynamo. circuit, a contact ring'concentric with the rotatable element and in electrical contact withthe engine, means for connecting the brushes with the contact ring, and means for holdings aid means normally out of contact. v In testimony whereof we have signed oui 'v names to tlns specification in the preseneeei' two subscribing Witnesses.

' HEN RY SCllAJ-KKE.

. JOHN T. COWIE.-

Witnesses:

LEILA WINTEM'UTE, HENRY L. EDMONDS. 

